🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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Interior/Top
LS Swap
Wheels
Sounds/Music
Suspension/Brakes
Paint
BOOST TIME!!!!

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Well boys and girls my new project is finally home. Ive always had a hard on for the Donks (71-76 Caprice or Impala) and always told myself since 1994 that I was eventually going to build one. My buddy mike at the time had a 74 Caprice Vert with 30's and Vouges (google them if you dont know what they are) basically 30 spoke cragars and vouge tires. Its a classic old school gangster look. Over the years he built a few more and sold them and always offered them to me first and I declined because of my love of G Body's as well. When I bought the Regal a couple years ago, I really looked hard at the Donks and believe it or not they were going for half of what they are going for now. Even last summer they coulda been had for about a 1/3rd less maybe a little less for what they are going for now. I was set on a 71 or a 75 for 2 reasons. 71 is the most sought after and fetches the most money as its known as the ACE. 75 because it was the year I was born, and thought that would be pretty cool. Didnt care if it was a HT or Vert, kinda preferred that HT as I dont think Chgo weather is weather for Verts. Pay a extra $10k for a Vert, no thanks.

So when my buddy and I made a deal for the Regal months ago and I knew he was serious. I got serious in my search for a donk. As most of you know I went to Miami for 4 days last month. Had a shit load of them lined up to look at and found either garbage or guys that wouldnt move off what I thought was too high of a price. Few that I thought were too high, have actually sold since then, so I'm thinking price wasnt too high. While in Miami I met this dude Josh and him and I clicked and became friends. Super cool white boy who is in to donks as well, not generally something you see white boys building. He told me he would keep his eyes and ears open and if close enough would do the leg work for me. But told me if he found something I would have to hi-tail my ass down there asap as when they are priced right they sell in hours. Just so happened we decided to go down to Orlando this weekend because we found $61 RT airfare and the biggest donk/g body show just was going on. Figured I might be able to buy something there. Called Josh to tell him we were coming down and if he planned on taking his car to Orlando. He said he might know of a 71 going up for sale with a motivated buyer. I said well fuck let me know asap.

Touched down in Orlando Friday night and had to be up early Saturday to cruise to Ft Lauderdale to see this 71. Pull up to this gated community with $1m+ townhomes and get buzzed in by security. Pull up to the house and she was sitting in driveway and looked as clean as the pics I was sent. Took it for a ride, BSing with Josh, my buddy Ralphy and the owner of the car. Talking about everything from sports to woman to cars. Come to find out this rich fuck is a collector and has 2 other 71's besides the one I bought, and just purchased another on top of 6-7 other cars he has. I guess the Wife has a rule, every time he gets a new one something has to go lol. While BSing I kinda feel him out and get the idea he doesnt want this car going to a black guy who is going to ruin it with big wheels and a LS swap lol. So I played my white privilege card with him. He was asking $25k and very easily had him down to $20k. My final offer was $17.5k and he said he would sleep on it. Told him if he agreed in the morning then it was his job to get it to Orlando before Sunday night. He woke me up about 8am saying the car was mine and was on the way to Orlando. He showed up, we exchanged cash and paperwork, took it off the trailer and parked it at my Airbnb. We were going out for the day/night, so I pulled the coil so the fucker wouldnt start in case someone wanted to steal it lol. Also backed it in so a tow truck would have a hard time stealing it as well.

Talked to a few of the Chgo guys down there for the show and got lucky as one of the haulers had room for me to get her home. Car was dropped off in Midlothian today at $how and Go Customz and turns out Playboy a friend of mine just opened that shop up. Does nothing but suspension and motor work. Talked pricing about shortening my rear end, coilovers all the way around, new axels and adjustable control arms to squat this car. Basically a "California Lean". Front end will sit at stock height with a 26" rim and the rear end will squat 3-4" lower. I have some 26" Billets but probably going to put new barrels on the rear rims. Right now they are a 5.5" lip and I want that 7" lip on the rear, hence the reason for shortening the rear end. Most of you think of Donk and think of those 71-76 sitting on fucking 4x4 suspensions with 30" wheels. Yes those are donks as well, but not the look I'm shooting for.

Shawn1112

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We were just talking about going to WoW and I told the girl, I'll have to find out if Shawn will have the car there. We are definitely making it now.
Rolandos is going to have a vendor spot. We are going to try and get about 10 cars at his booth. Even if it’s only 4-5 it just makes it easier. That show kicks your fucking ass, it’s 4 days including set up. Having a good group there, you can figure out schedules so the owner of a car doesn’t have to be there the whole time. I vowed to never do that show again and here I am planning for it lol
 

Shawn1112

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Trunk remix done and I’m happy with it. It’s clean and simple. Henry wanted to go crazy in the trunk with a full panel on top with all kinds of designs in it. But that requires holes to be drilled in the gutters and screws thru the holes to attach the panels. FUCK ALL THAT! Everyone I know that has done that had water eventually leak inside the trunk.

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Shawn1112

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I think I’m finally done ordering the odds/ends for the blower. I’m sure something will pop up that I forgot. But nothing that can’t be sourced locally or within a day or 2. I’ve asked a few shops I deal with to quote the install. 2 of them never responded and I’m not gonna beg someone to take my money. One wants to do it as an open ticket at $125hr. He said he can’t put a number on it, I told him bullshit, you can get a close number then add a few hours. On top of that, I’m not paying anyone $125hr.

How long does it take to do head gasket job? How long to do a fuel pump? How long to do a water pump, AC compressor, alternator and power steering pump? 1hr to pin the crank, 1hr to mount intercooler, 1hr to do fuel filter and the regulator? I mean all of that basically puts you in the ballpark imo. No fucking way am I going with an open ticket, it basically means you can take your sweet ass time. I’m leaning towards doing it at some dudes shop I know. Not a huge fan of him personally. But he has a lift and said he would help me and just pay him what I feel is fair. He has done a bunch of them and as long as I’m there helping there won’t be any corners cut.

Car goes to suspension shop next Tuesday. He is going to mount new barrels to rear rims. Mock up the rims and take measurements for my rear end. He is thinking 4 weeks on the new rear end, maybe 5 due to the guys building the rear end are having a booth at SEMA. I wanted to take the car sooner, but the Wifey wanted to do a trunk or treat thing next Sunday.
 

Jimy Bilmo

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I think I’m finally done ordering the odds/ends for the blower. I’m sure something will pop up that I forgot. But nothing that can’t be sourced locally or within a day or 2. I’ve asked a few shops I deal with to quote the install. 2 of them never responded and I’m not gonna beg someone to take my money. One wants to do it as an open ticket at $125hr. He said he can’t put a number on it, I told him bullshit, you can get a close number then add a few hours. On top of that, I’m not paying anyone $125hr.

How long does it take to do head gasket job? How long to do a fuel pump? How long to do a water pump, AC compressor, alternator and power steering pump? 1hr to pin the crank, 1hr to mount intercooler, 1hr to do fuel filter and the regulator? I mean all of that basically puts you in the ballpark imo. No fucking way am I going with an open ticket, it basically means you can take your sweet ass time. I’m leaning towards doing it at some dudes shop I know. Not a huge fan of him personally. But he has a lift and said he would help me and just pay him what I feel is fair. He has done a bunch of them and as long as I’m there helping there won’t be any corners cut.

Car goes to suspension shop next Tuesday. He is going to mount new barrels to rear rims. Mock up the rims and take measurements for my rear end. He is thinking 4 weeks on the new rear end, maybe 5 due to the guys building the rear end are having a booth at SEMA. I wanted to take the car sooner, but the Wifey wanted to do a trunk or treat thing next Sunday.
Why not bring it over to the Huggerorange73 huggerorange73 garage. You guys can stroke each other off about baseball too.
 

Bob Kazamakis

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I think I’m finally done ordering the odds/ends for the blower. I’m sure something will pop up that I forgot. But nothing that can’t be sourced locally or within a day or 2. I’ve asked a few shops I deal with to quote the install. 2 of them never responded and I’m not gonna beg someone to take my money. One wants to do it as an open ticket at $125hr. He said he can’t put a number on it, I told him bullshit, you can get a close number then add a few hours. On top of that, I’m not paying anyone $125hr.

How long does it take to do head gasket job? How long to do a fuel pump? How long to do a water pump, AC compressor, alternator and power steering pump? 1hr to pin the crank, 1hr to mount intercooler, 1hr to do fuel filter and the regulator? I mean all of that basically puts you in the ballpark imo. No fucking way am I going with an open ticket, it basically means you can take your sweet ass time. I’m leaning towards doing it at some dudes shop I know. Not a huge fan of him personally. But he has a lift and said he would help me and just pay him what I feel is fair. He has done a bunch of them and as long as I’m there helping there won’t be any corners cut.

Car goes to suspension shop next Tuesday. He is going to mount new barrels to rear rims. Mock up the rims and take measurements for my rear end. He is thinking 4 weeks on the new rear end, maybe 5 due to the guys building the rear end are having a booth at SEMA. I wanted to take the car sooner, but the Wifey wanted to do a trunk or treat thing next Sunday.
I bet you could find book hour for an lsa blower swap and intercooler on a factory car and tack on a few for custom install.
 
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Shawn1112

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I bet you could find book hour for an lsa blower swap and intercooler on a factory car and tack on a few for custom install.
I’m also doing heads and pulley system swap. So thats why I referenced a head gasket job. Gotta pull everything off the top end to do the head gaskets. Then your essentially replacing the intake mani with the blower when your putt it back together
 

Jimy Bilmo

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I’m also doing heads and pulley system swap. So thats why I referenced a head gasket job. Gotta pull everything off the top end to do the head gaskets. Then your essentially replacing the intake mani with the blower when your putt it back together
That should be pretty easy to quote then. Should be able to quote ya with an extra handful of hours for the unknowns.
 
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Shawn1112

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Dropped my valve covers, lid and -10an fittings for catch can off at my painters yesterday.
He is going to weld the fittings on to the front of my valve covers then paint those and the lid the same color as my car.
I also asked him if he would pull my hood, front fascia and bumper off a day or 2 prior to me starting the blower. All shit I can do, but then I gotta worry about storing it, and lining it up when its time to put that shit back on. Letting him pull it, means he stores it and is responsible for lining everything back up. It will make mounting the intercooler, and pinning the crank so much easier with that shit out of the way.
 

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